Pioneer of the tuba world, who has expanded the possibilities of the instrument called tuba!
Eystein Borzvik is a unique tuba virtuoso who has carved his own path as a soloist rather than as an orchestral tubist and educator. Through his roles as a soloist, chamber musician, lecturer, and recording artist, his diverse pursuits have earned him recognition worldwide.
Born in Norway on 1966, he began playing the tuba at the age of 15. After studying at the Royal Swedish Academy of Music, he further honed his skills under the guidance of the renowned Harvey Phillips at the Indiana University School of Music and the legendary Arnold P. Jacobs. His international career took off in 1991 when he garnered two prizes in the Tuba section of the Geneva International Music Competition.
He has performed with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra, National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonic Orchestra Singapore, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Suisse Romande Orchestra, and the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition to his orchestral engagements, he has graced renowned concert halls worldwide and made his debut at Carnegie Hall in 2006. Borzvik's masterclasses and clinics are highly sought after, and he has been invited to prestigious institutions such as the Juilliard School, Indiana University, Cleveland Institute of Music, Rice University Shepherd School of Music, and the University of Wisconsin. His performance repertoire spans a wide spectrum, encompassing solo and orchestral works, as well as ventures into jazz and rock. Collaborating with rock musicians is one distinguishing aspect of his diverse artistic endeavors
While exploring the multifaceted possibilities of the tuba, he actively commissions new works from composers in the United States, Russia, Sweden, Norway, and Switzerland. To date, he has premiered approximately 40 solo works. In recent years, the evolution of tuba repertoire has demanded newer techniques, prompting him to dedicate himself to developing innovative approaches. In 1999, in recognition of these achievements, he was awarded a two-year scholarship from the Norwegian State.
He is also prolific in recording, with many CDs, including those under the BIS label, receiving praise from various quarters. Over the past two years, his recordings have consistently ranked among the top sellers in the wind instrument CD market in Japan, demonstrating his ongoing success and growth.
A major critique of him came from The Daily Telegraph, which wrote, "His emotional recording talent, paired with his captivating, majestic sound, has liberated the tuba from its unjust reputation." The Polish music magazine Ruf Muzyczny (Music Trends) commented on Ralph Vaughan Williams' Tuba Concerto performance, stating, "Many pianists and violinists appreciate his phrasing. One should study the tuba for at least a year with him, and you will certainly achieve ideal phrasing." Furthermore, composer John Williams remarked, "Borzvik's performance in my concerto far exceeded my intended expectations."
